Paint roller device



Aug. 2, 1966 E. R. MUNN PAINT ROLLER DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed D80. 2, 1964 E lw'n R. Munn Aug. 2, 1966 E. R. MUNN 3, 3, 3

PAINT ROLLER DEVICE Filed Dec. 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E/w'n A. Mann [NI EATON.

2. 1966 E. R. MUNN 3,263,263

PAINT ROLLER DEVICE Filed Dec. 2 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 9

E lw'n R. Mann INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,263,263 PAINT RDLLER DEVICE Elvin R. Munn, St. Louis, Mo., assignor of one-half to Ronald A. Mann, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Dec. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 415,239 17 Claims. (Cl. 15-573) This invention relates to a liquid applying device and p more particularly to a paint roller device of the type having its own supply of liquid paint constituting an improvement over the device disclosed and claimed in my prior co-pending application U.S. Serial No. 254,890, filed January 30, 1963, now Patent No. 3,212,121.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a paint applying device of the aforementioned type capable of being angularly positioned within a wide range of movement so as to safely permit the coating of vertical and horizontal surfaces without danger of spilling or splashing of the liquid paint from the container associate-d with the paint applying device.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a paint applying device which is selectively operative to either transfer liquid paint at a regulated rate to the surface being coated or smooth out and spread a previously applied thick application of liquid. The device is accordingly operative in response to pressure applied against the paint applying roller to automatically condition the device for either the paint applying or paint smoothing operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a paint applying machine having its own supply of liquid paint and facilities for automatically regulating the transfer of paint to the surface being coated whereby relatively smooth surfaces such as glass may be satifactorily coated.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a paint applying device having an angularly adjustable extension handle through which the device may be more easily conditioned for applying paint to surfaces at locations which have heretofore been difficult to coat.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the paint applying device of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of the device taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of the device taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view corresponding to the sectional view of FIGURE 2 but showing the paint applying device in another operative condition.

FIGURE 5 is partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 8-8 in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a rear elevational view of the paint applying device with an extension handle attached.

FIGURE 10 is a partial sectional view taken substan- 3,253,263 Patented August 2, 1966 tially through a plane indicated by section line 10-10 in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 11-11 in FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the paint applying device with the extension handle attached.

FIGURE 13 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 13-13 in FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIGURES l, 9 and 12 it will be observed that the paint applying device of the present invention is generally denoted by reference numeral 10. A liquid applying roller 12 projects from the upper forward side of the device through which liquid paint may be rolled on to the surface to be coated which may either be a vertical Wall surface 14 as shown in FIGURE 12 or a horizontal ceiling surface 16. The device may also be utilized of course, for coating of floor surfaces. Depending upon the location of the surface to be coated, the operator may hold the device either directly by a handle assembly 18 which projects rearwardly from the device or the device may be held remotely spaced from the operator by means of an extension handle 20 attached to the device and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom by means of an extension attachment assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 22. As will be hereafter explained, the paint applying roller 12 is so mounted that the pressure with which it is pressed against the surface to be coated either through the handle assembly 18 or the extension handle 20, will condition the device for either applying paint at a regulated rate to the surface being coated or to merely smooth out or spread the paint previously applied perhaps too thickly.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 9, it will be observed that the main body of the paint applying device constitutes a container for the liquid paint 24.. The container is formed between a pair of parallel spaced side walls 26 interconnected by a downwardly inclined front wall 28 joined to a rear 'wall 3th by a curved bottom wall 32. A liquid retaining lip 34 extends rearwandly and downwardly from the upper edge of the front wall 28 just below the liquid applying roller 12 so as to prevent spilling and splashing of paint from the container when it is tilted or moved during the painting operation. Paint is also prevented from splashing out of the container body by means of a closure lid 36 which covers the top of the container body in rearward spaced relationship to the liquid applying roller 12. The lid 36 is hingedly mounted on the container body by a. pair hinge devices 38 anchored to the rear wall 30 of the container together with the rearwardly extending bracket 40 associated with the handle assembly 18. The lid 36 is also provided with downwardly depending side portions 42 to which resilient sealing strips 44 are secured interconnected by a sealing portion 46 secured by a pair of bolt assemblies 50 to an elongated bracket 52 disposed against the rear wall 30 just below the upper edge thereof as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. The angle bracket 52 is secured by the fasteners 54 to the side walls 26 of the container at the opposite longitudinal ends of the bracket as more clearly seen in FIGURE 13, from which the sealing strips 44 extend forwardly over the upper edges of the side walls 26 of the container. The lid 36 is held assembled on the top of the container by means of the curved portion 55 at the rear edge underlying the head of the fastener bolt assemblies 50 within recesses formed in the resilient connecting portion 46 seated on the elongated angle bracket 52. The hinge devices 38 include leaf spring portions 56 by means of which they are anchored to the rear wall 30 so as to apply a slight bias to the lid holding it in the illustrated closed position. It will therefore be apparent, that the lid 36 may be pivotally raised in order to disassemble the device and reload the container causing the rear curved edge 55 to slightly compress the connecting portion 48 which is made of a suitable material such as sponge rubber. The sponge rubber material will also be slightly compressed in the closed position of the lid so as to establish a good seal.

Also associated with handle assembly 18, is a lower bracket 58 secured to the curved bottom wall 32 where it joins the rear wall 30. Formed integal with or connected to the bracket 58 are a pair of parallel spaced connecting plate portions '60 provided with locking guide slots 62 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 2. With continued reference to FIGURES 10, 11 and 12, it will be observed that the extension connecting assembly 12 includes a tubular member 64 to which the extension rod 20 is secured in any suitable fashion as for example by the pin 66. A connecting portion 68 extends upwardly from the tubular portion 64 and is provided with a pair of spaced notches including a forward notch 70 adapted to receive a pin 72 interconnected between the connecting plates 60 in alignment with the connecting guide slots 62. The second notch 74 is adapted to receive a pin 76 which interconnects a pair of link elements 78 for pivotal mounting thereof adjacent one end opposite an end pivotally interconnected by a second pin 80 received within the guide slots 62. The pin 80 projects beyond the guide slots 62 and has secured to one end thereof, a manipulating knob portion 82 while the opposite end is threaded for threadedly receiving a locking wing nut 84. It will therefore be apparent, that with the wing nut -84 loosened, the pin 80 may be slidably positioned by means of the knob 82 within the guide slots 62 in order to pivotally displace the tubular member 64 and the handle rod 20 attached thereto about a pivot axis established through the pin 72 in order to adjust the angular position of the extension handle rod 20. The connecting portion 68 is held assembled to the pins 72 and 76 by a clamp element 86 held against the pins by means of the threaded clamp bolt 88 which extends from the connecting portion 68 through the clamp element 86. A clamping wing nut 90 is therefore provided for releasably holding the clamp element in position. Also, when the link element 78 has been displaced along the guide slot 62 to a position predetermining the desired angular position of the extension rod, it is locked in place by means of the wing nut 84. Thus, the extension connecting assembly 22 not only provides for angular adjustment of the extension handle but is also readily disassembled from the container body when not in use.

The liquid applying roller 12 is of a conventional construction including an absorbing material mounted on a tubular core 92 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3, the tubular core being rotatably mounted by bearings at its opposite axial ends on a'roller axle 94. The liquid applying roller is oper-atively mounted in the positions illustrated projecting from the container body by means of a supporting bracket assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 96. Also mounted by the supporting bracket assembly, is a liquid absorbing roller 98 adapted to be immersed in the liquid paint 24, the roller 98 being rotatably mounted in a conventional manner on a roller spindle 100. An intermediate, externally grooved, liquid transfer roller 102 is also rotatably mounted on its roller axle 104 supported by the bracket assembly 96 between the liquid absorbing roller 98 and the liquid applying roller 12. The transfer roller 102 is adapted to be in continuous contact with the roller 98 for transfer of liquid paint to the liquid applying roller 12 when the roller 12 is in contact with the roller 102. The liquid applying roller 12 is therefore displaceable between limit positions in which it is either in contact with the transfer roller 102 for applying paint to the In surface being coated or in a limit position wherein it is out of contact with the transfer roller when paint smoothing or spreading operation is desired.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 6 and 7, it will be noted that the roller supporting bracket assembly 96 includes a pair of parallel spaced bracket plate members 106 interconnected in spaced relation to each other by means of a connecting spacer element 108 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3. Each of the plate members 106 is provided at its lower ends, with laterally extending positioning flanges 110, having notches 112 adapted to receive a positioning pin 114 which extends inwardly from each of the side walls 26 of the container adjacent to the bottom wall 32 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 6. A guide slot 116 is formed in the plate members 106 for receiving the axial end portions of the roller axle in order to rotatably mount the roller 98 between the plate members with its rotational axis shiftable by a limited amount in a substantially vertical direction. Formed in each of the plate members 106 is a second guide slot 118 which extends in a direction disposed at an obtuse angle of 123 to the direction of the guide slot 116 in order to receive the axial end portions of the roller axle 104 associated with the transfer roller 102. A third guide slot 120 is formed in each of the plate members 106 for receiving the axial end portions of the roller axle 94 associated with the liquid applying roller 12 in order to limit movement of the roller 12 between the aforementioned limit positions wherein the roller 12 either contacts the transfer roller 102 or is out of contact therewith.

The transfer roller 102 is held assembled between the plate members 106 by means of its axle 104 provided with a groove receiving a lock ring element 122 which bears against each of the side plate members in order to prevent axial shift of the axle. The liquid absorbing roller 98 is urged into continuous contact with the transfer roller by means of a spring element 124. Each plate member accordingly anchors the upper end of the spring element 124 associated therewith by means of an anchoring projection 126 while the lower hook end 128 of each of the spring elements 124 fits through a transverse bore 130 formed adjacent the opposite axial ends of the roller axle 100 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 6. Thus, the

spring element 124 holds the roller axle 100 in an axially assembled position between the plate members and also continuously urges the roller 98 into contact with the transfer roller 100 as well as to urge the transfer roller upwardly within its guide slot 118 with a reduced bias force in view of the obtuse angular relationship of the guide slot 118 to the direction of the spring element 124 parallel to the guide slot 116. Accordingly, the transfer roller 102 will be urged into contact with the liquid applying roller 12 with a regulated bias when the roller 12 is in one of its limit positions illustrated in FIGURE 2.

When the roller 12 is held against the surf-ace being coated with the proper pressure for coating even relatively smooth surfaces such as glass, its axle 94 will be at the lower end of the guide slot 120 shown in FIGURE 2 with the transfer roller 102 being held in contact therewith with the regulated bias aforementioned necessary to transfer the liquid paint at the proper rate. In the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the roller 12 is also held against the surface being coated with a pressure sufiicient to overcome the bias imposed on the roller axle 94 by the spring arm 132 which bears against a pin 134 rotatably mounting the axle engaging roller disk 136. The axle engaging disk is rotatably mounted at the end of the pressure control lever 138 pivotally mounted by the pin 140 on each of the plate members 106.

It will be observed from FIGURE 2, that the axle engaging roller disk 136 contacts the axle 94 in the illustrated limit position at such a position relative to the pivotal axis established through the pivot pin 140, that a relatively small component of the force applied by the spring arm 132 will be transmitted to the axle 94 along its guide slot 120. However, when the roller axle 94 is in its other limit position as illustrated in FIGURE 4, it will be engaged by the roller disk 136 in such a position that the bias force applied by the spring arm 132 will have the largest component of its force transmitted to the roller axle in order to hold it in this limit position. In the holding limit position shown in FIGURE 4, the roller 12 will be out of contact with the transfer roller 102 and held in the out-of-contact position with a substantial force suflicient to permit the operator to spread thicklyapplied paint 142. The axle engaging roller disk 136 is therefore mounted by the lever element 138 for movement between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4 with the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 being very close to the over-center position beyond which the lever element 38 must not be displaced. In order to avoid displacement of the lever element beyond the overcenter position, it is provided with a limit stop extension 144 engageable with the axle 94. It will also be apparent, that to change the condition of the device for applying paint, when it is in the condition shown in FIGURE 4, would require applying extra pressure against the surface sufiicient to overcome the bias of the spring arm 132 in order to displace the roller axle 94 to the position shown in FIGURE 2, in which position it may be held with a reduced pressure in view of the pressure reducing displacement of the pressure control levers 138.

The spring arms 132 extend from the axial ends of coil springs 148 which are protectively housed within a casing 150. The spring casings 150 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 8, are secured to the plate members 106 by bolt assemblies 152, the spring arms 132 extending through slots formed in the casings permitting angular displacement of the spring arms as the pressure control levers 138 are displaced between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4.

The upper end portions of the plate members 106 which mount the casings 150 for the bias springs 148 and the pressure control levers 138 with the axle engaging roller disks 136 mounted thereon, are spaced from the upper forward end portions of the side walls 26 by means of spacer elements 154 and lock pins 156 which extend therethrough and are aligned with openings formed in the side walls through which end portions 158 of each pin 156 is exposed as more clearly seen in FIGURE 1. The forward upper end portions of the side walls 26 are relatively flexible so that they may be laterally displaced when inserting the supporting bracket assembly 96 in order to receive the end portions 158 of the lock pins which project laterally from the spacing elements 154. When received in the apertures of the side walls 26, the end portions 158 of the pins may be locked in place by means of the locking lever elements 160 pivotally mounted by pins 162 on the side walls. The locking lever elements 160 are accordingly provided with notches 164 which fit over the projecting portions 158 of the locking pins and are also provided with forward flange portions 166 which embrace the abutting portions of the spacing elements 154 to form a laterally rigid assembly with the plate members 106 to which the spacing elements 154 are secured. Proper operation of the spring biasing facilities and pressure control facilities is thereby assured. Also, disassembly of the roller supporting bracket assembly 96 with the rollers is accommodated. It will therefore be apparent, that disassembly of the rollers together as a unit may be effected by upwardly retracting the locking lever elements 160 to permit lateral displacement of the upper forward portions of the side Walls releasing the plate members 106 of the bracket assembly. The bracket as sembly may then be withdrawn upwardly after the lid 36 is pivotally raised upwardly. The container may then be reloaded with liquid paint and the rollers disassembled from the supporting bracket assembly if desired in order to clean them.

The foregoing is considerd as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be restored to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a liquid applying device having a container from which liquid is transferred to a liquid applying roller, roller supporting means mounting the liquid applying roller for movement between two limit positions, liquid transfer means operatively mounted by the supporting means for transfer of liquid thereto in response to contact of the roller, contact pressure means rendered operative to urge the transfer means into contact with roller in one limit position of the roller, bias means for urging the roller to the other limit position out of contact with the transfer means, and pressure control means for reducing the bias imposed by said biasing means on the roller when displaced to said one limit position to render the contact pressure means operative.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises, a bracket assembly carrying said roller and the transfer means for removal together from the container, means mounted in the container for positi-oning the bracket assembly therein, and releasable lock means mounted by the container and engageable with the bracket assembly for locking thereof to the container.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said transfer means comprises a liquid absorbing element immersed in said liquid, a liquid transfer element disposed between said absorbing element and the roller, means rotatably mounting said elements about axes displaceable in directions intersecting at an obtuse angle, said transfer element being displaceable by the absorbing element into contact with the roller, said abosrbing element being connected to the contact pressure means for urging the transfer element into contact with the roller.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said pressure control means comprises lever means engageable by the bias means for displacement to a holding position almost aligned in the direction of movement of the roller and roller engaging means mounted by the lever means for displacement thereof transverse to said direction of movement in response to movement of the roller to said one limit position.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said bracket assembly includes a pair of plate members between which said roller and transfer means are mounted, means interconnecting said plate members, spacing means secured to .said plate members extending laterally therefrom into abutting relation to the container for engagement by said lock means to form a rigid assembly with the container.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said container includes spaced side walls mounting said lock means and engageable with the spacing means, a front wall interconnecting the side walls and having an upper edge closely spaced below the roller, a rear wall interconnecting said side walls, and a bottom wall joining the rear and front walls.

7. The combination of claim 6 including a handle assembly secured to the rear wall, and extension handle means mounted by the handle assembly and the bottom wall.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said extension handle means comprises, a pair of plates having a guide slot therein, connecting means pivotally mounted by said guide plates, link means pivotally connected to the connecting means and received within said guide slot for angularly positioning the connecting means relative to the guide plates, means for clamping the link means in adjusted position within the guide slot and an elongated handle rod secured to the connecting means.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a liquid absorbing element immersed in said liquid, a liquid transfer element disposed between said absorbing element and the roller means rotatably mounting said elements about axes dis-placeable in directions intersecting at an obtuse angle, said transfer element being displaceable by the absorbing element into contact with the roller, said absorbing element being connected to the contact pressure means for urging the transfer element into contact with the roller.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said pressure control means comprises lever means enga'geable by the bias means for displacement to a holding position almost aligned in the direction of movement of the roller and roller engaging means mounted by the lever means for displacement thereof transverse to said direction of move- .ment in response to movement of the roller to said one limit position.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein said pressure control means comprises lever means engageable by the bias means for displacement to a holding position almost .aligned in the direction of movement of the roller and roller engaging means mounted by the lever means for displacement thereof transverse to said direction of movement in response to movement of the roller to said one limit position.

12. In a liquid applying device having a container fro-m which liquid is transferred to a liquid applying roller, roller supporting means mounting the liquid applying roller for movement between two limit positions, liquid transfer means operatively mounted by the supporting means for transfer of liquid thereto in response to contact of the roller, said supporting means comprising, a bracket assembly carrying said roller and the transfer means for removal together from the container, means mounted in the container for positioning the bracket assembly therein, and releasable lock means mounted by the container and engageable with the bracket assembly for locking thereof to the container.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said bracket assembly includes a pair of plate members between which said roller and trans-fer means are mounted, means interconnecting said plate members, spacing means secured to said plate members extending laterally therefrom into abutting relation to the container for engagement by said lock means to form a rigid assembly with the container.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said container includes spaced side Walls mounting said lock means and engageable with the spacing means, front wall interconnecting the side walls and having an upper edge closely spaced below the roller, a rear wall interconnecting said side walls, and a bottom wall joining the rear and front walls.

15. The combination of claim 14 including a handle assembly secured to the rear wall, and extension handle means mounted by the handle assembly and the bottom wall.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said extension handle means comprises, a pair of guide plates having a guide slot therein, connecting means pivotally mounted by said guide plates, link means pivotally connected to the connecting means and received within said guide slot for angularly positioning the connecting means relative to the guide plates, means for clamping the link means in adjusted position within the guide slot and an elongated handle rod secured to the connecting means.

17. In a liquid applying device having a container from which liquid is transferred to a liquid applying roller, roller supporting means mounting the liquid applying roller for exposure from the container, said container including a handle assembly secured to the rear wall, and extension handle means mounted by the handle assembly and the bottom wall, said extension handle means comprising, a pair of guide plates having a guide slot therein, connecting means pivotally mounted by said guide plates, link means pivotally connected to the connecting means and received Within said guide slot for ang-ularly positioning the connecting means relative to the guide plates, means for clamping the link means in adjusted position within the guide slot and an elongated handle rod secured to the connecting means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,409 11/1945 Brzeski l5573 2,561,162 7/1951 Whitlow 15-573 2,678,002 5/1954 Roell et a1 15573 FOREIGN PATENTS 566,080 12/1944 Great Britain.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A LIQUID APPLYING DEVICE HAVING A CONTAINER FROM WHICH LIQUID IS TRANSFERRED TO A LIQUID APPLYING ROLLER, ROLLER SUPPORTING MEANS MOUNTING THE LIQUID APPLYING ROLLER FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN TWO LIMIT POSITIONS, LIQUID TRANSFER MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED BY THE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR TRANSFER OF LIQUID THERETO IN RESPONSE TO CONTACT OF THE ROLLER, CONTACT PRESSURE MEANS RENDERED OPERATIVE TO URGE THE TRANSFER MEANS INTO CONTACT WITH ROLLER IN ONE LIMIT POSITION OF THE ROLLER, BIAS MEANS FOR URGING THE ROLLER TO THE OTHER LIMIT POSITION OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE TRANSFER MEANS, AND PRESSURE CONTROL MEANS FOR REDUCING THE BIAS IMPOSED BY SAID BIASING MEANS ON THE ROLLER WHEN DISPLACED TO SAID ONE LIMIT POSITION TO RENDER THE CONTACT PRESSURE MEANS OPERATIVE. 